Lee Jae-myung, the liberal South Korean politician favoured to become the country's next leader, has overcome a knife attack, martial law and criminal charges on his unexpected path back toward the presidency.

The former Democratic Party chief had led the opposition-controlled parliament’s impeachment of Yoon over the imposition of martial law in December.

South Korea’s main liberal opposition party tapped Sunday its former leader Lee Jae-myung as presidential candidate in the upcoming June 3 vote. The Democratic Party said Lee has won nearly 90% of the votes cast during the party’s primary that ended Sunday,